Thursday, November 19, 2009

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I would like to respond to comments that were made at a recent meeting before the Montecito Planning Commission. I must say up front that I am adamantly against any sidewalks being put in Montecito and went to the meeting to see what could be done to stop the project of building a sidewalk along San Ysidro Road, between North Jameson Road and Montecito Union School. Those of us standing up against this project were accused of many things that were untrue-the worst of which was the accusation that we don’t care about the safety of children. This could not be further from the truth. For all the generations of parents who have raised their families in Montecito and managed to get their children to Montecito Union School and back home safely without sidewalks, I have to say that is a completely unfair accusation and I resent it.

I raised two children who went to Montecito Union School, and because I have been legally blind for 35 years and therefore unable to drive, I walked both my children to school every day, safely, without any incidents or accidents. Not only did I walk my children to school, but, because of my blindness, I have walked and continue to walk all over Montecito every day, whether it’s to exercise my dog or get to both the upper and lower villages.

I love this community and have raised my children to love and respect the very special and beautiful area where we are so very lucky and blessed to live. When I moved here, I would never have dreamed of wanting to change it and would hate to see this kind of change happen now! I lived in New England for many years when I was young, and often think, when walking through our community, how I could almost be walking in a small town in New Hampshire.

My husband, Greg Maher, grew up in Montecito in a large family of brothers and sisters and cousins. His mother, Frances Maher, moved here as a child from France during World War II and attended and graduated from Montecito Union School. They, along with the Manset family, were instrumental in starting the Knowlwood Tennis Club. They started it out of love for their families and to create a safe and healthy place for their children to hang out, and that is what Knowlwood Tennis Club is still all about today. We are proud of that history and proud of what that represents.

There is a history in this community-of love for our children, and love for the beauty of this place-that has been cherished and respected for generations by the families who have lived here. Let’s continue to keep this neighborhood safe and beautiful, as it is now, for all the future generations of families who will live in this incredible community.

Let’s stop this ridiculous and unnecessary project of putting urban sidewalks in rural Montecito, and especially along San Ysidro Road, which already is one of the safest pathways to walk in the area. Besides being an incredible waste of money during this tough economy (this money could be utilized in many other important ways or saved to pay toward California’s incredible debt-what a concept!), this project was brought about behind the backs of the residents living along San Ysidro Road and is being pushed through without even the compromise of looking at other alternatives that better suit our community.

Comments

I would agree that we should maintain the rural character of Montecito, but a limited sidewalk project around MUS, in my opinion is a good idea. Anything we can do to encourage parents to get out of their cars and walk their kids to school or let them walk on their own when they are older is good for the community and the environment. What is more rural than the notion of walking to school? We as a community have gotten away from that. As a youth I walked or rode my bike to school every day and enjoyed the independence from my mom and the empowerment of making and being accountable for my own schedule and transportation. I think a sidewalk could be constructed that respects the design sensibilities and rural nature of the area and provides the feeling of safety that many desire. There is plenty of room to satisfy both side of the issue.

While we're on the rural topic I would love to bury all the power and utility lines in Montecito, a project which was considered a few years ago. Let's revive that discussion!

While were on the safety topic how about extending the bike lanes along the major travel corridors, particularily East Valley Road. Better bike lanes would encourage that mode of transportation and be good for the environment and our health. What a positive message this would evoke about the rural nature of Montecito.

Interesting the Ms. Maher is against paving the walkway with a sidewalk but was not against molesting the pristine land she loves with a tennis court. How about cutting down some of the trees to make a bowling alley?

I do agree that using the wail of "save the children" is a worn out and illogical rallying cry.

Help me out here folks. Which formal logic fallacy does appealing that it will save the children fall into?

The closest I come to is: Fallacy of False Cause or Non Sequitur: incorrectly assumes one thing is the cause of another. Non Sequitur is Latin for "It does not follow."

* Example

Argument: Our nation will prevail because God is great. Problem: There is no necessary cause and effect between God's greatness and a nation prevailing. Simply because God can be considered great does not mean a nation will prevail. (from wikipedia)

There is no cause and effect that the children will or will not be saved by a sidewalk since a car can still go over the curb and maul them.

sensiblepath: This is far from a "limited sidewalk project around MUS." This pathway will extend from MUS, all the way down to North Jameson Lane, a total of more than 3000 feet. It will be "meandering," meaning that it will extend more than 5 feet from the curb in many places, and will therefore take out historic trees and unique landscaping, elements which are key to the semi-rural character of Montecito. Furthermore, to meet ADA standards, the path will be made of enhanced decomposed granite (to look almost like a concrete sidewalk), and will include numerous curb cuts and curb ramps, with brightly colored, plastic warning surfaces at each intersection and pedestrian crossing.

There is a common sense solution to all of this. Let's clean up the current footpath which has safely accommodated numerous children and others over the years and has become wider in many places as property owners have cleared areas next to the street. The few problem areas can be fixed by trimming back vegetation and leveling out the pathway. The County has the responsibility to maintain its right-of-way and has failed to do so. Instead, they have let bushes grow in spots, resulting in a pedestrian traffic nuisance. A little collaboration between the County, property owners, and other interested parties will surely result in a safe pathway all the way up San Ysidro. We don't need a $392,000 project that would destroy the look and feel of Montecito. The money would be better spent to help reduce traffic flow and speeds on the road!

cut back is good, why not just put in speed bumps to slow down the crazy child killing drivers. at least the children will see them comming if they are driving reckless. Or would that threaten the Monticito charm.....ROFLMAO

So maybe the people of Monticito do not want to get into changing the environment then maybe they all should agree that no child should be put in the way of a 2 ton metal device that could kill them at any time. We should all be better parents and drop our kids off at the school. Granted there would be some traffic but wouldnt it be worth our childrens lives and save us all the hassle of putting in a useless sidewalk? heck we might get 2 more min to get to know our children a bit better and hopefully they can be better adults than we are.